Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-19
Cigarette Smoking.

Joe Howard, the we'll known correspondent
to the Boston Globe, in his letter of We'd
nesday, gave the following information inter-
spersed with good suggestions put in his
characteristic way:
A friend of mine has smoked a cancer in
his throat, and is now on what we fear is his
death-bed. Keep it up, boys. You look
charming. Keep it up and smoke your livers
black. Who cares?
1t s calculated that the total number of
cigarettes consumed in this country is
2, 40OO, 600 0O0-68 cigarettes for each man,
woman and child in the United States. or
about 100 for each male inhsbitant including
me. Some other fellow smokes mine. This
estimate does not include imported cigarettes
from Turkey, Russia, France and other
European countries About so 600, 900 were
imported from these countries last year.
In the United States four cities have a
monopoly of the manufacturing New York,
Richmond, Rochester and Durham, n. G.
Detroit has just put up some big factories.
and San Francisco promises to rival the
eastern cities. The Increase in the cigarette
business in the United States during the last
ten wears has been enormous. Fifty per
cent a year is said to have been the average
increase. As the cigar trade has also in
creased, though not in such large proper
ton, it appears that this country is becoming
a nation Of cigarette smokers.
What is the effect of cigarette smoking on
the health of the people? is a pertinent ques-
ton and should not be difficult to answer.
Some physicians and chemists agree with the
manufacturers in declaring that the cigarette
is a much slsndered article, and that it is no
worse than a cigar. Others pronounce the
cigarette slow poison, poison that is under
mining constitutions Of the coming generation.
The general opinion among medical men is
that the cigarette should be avoided, espec-
tally by the young.
DR. William Hammond said when inter-
viewed | could not recommend the cigarette
to anybody. still must say that it is a much
maigned little article. Smoked moderately,
it will not hurt any man with constitution,
but to young boys it is poison. The same
might be said of all kinds of smoking, though
the cigarette is the worst or the least benef
cial of all Everyone knows that excessive
smokir will stunt the growth of the Young
and SOW the seeds of disease which will de-
velnp in later years
Well, cigarettes will only drop the seeds a
little faster. In my opinion it is only ques-
ton of nicotine absorbed and the intensity
Of the heat carried into the lungs. In these
two points the cigarette passes the cigar or
pipe, because il is generally inhaled, thus
carrying into the system the largest possible
quantity of nicotine, and because, on account
of its shortness the smoke that passes through
the mouth and nostrils is hotter. | do not think
that cigarettes are adulterated with deleterlOus
drugs. and many chemists have assured me
thai they are not, In the first place the
rivalry between the manufacturers is so
great that the production of an adulterated
article would ruin any mans business. Then
can see no motive for adulteration, since it
would only argument the cost of production.
OF course, inferior tobacco is often used, and
that i. always injurious, but there is inferior
tobacco in cigars, too.
The cigarette papers are of an innocuous
character in all the good brands, but the
cheap papers are, of course, injurious. I'm
derstand, mean that this paper will produce
no bad effects when cigarettes are smO ked
moderately. Smoked excessively, the dry
paper will irritate the throat and injure the
lungs, as well as effect the heart.
Excessive cigarette smoking frat pro-
duces constant irritation of the
palate and the throat. Then the lungs will
become more or less affected. Later on the
stomach will be reached and germs formed,
which will afterward develop into dyspepsia
and kindred diseases. Such is almost invari-
ably the case with young garette smokers.
NOWADAYS boys begin 10 smoke when they
are 10 or years old. Let them keep it up
until they reach manhood-if they ever do
reach it-snd they are not likely to know
what perfect health is during the remainder
of their lives.
DIR. Shrady, who attended Gen. Grant dur
ing his late illness, regards the use of cigar
INN riA nd no
not DR.. Hammond'S confidence in the purity
of the materials which go to MAKE up cigar
cite. In an article on the subject he says
There was little excessive smoking in this
country until the cigarette was introduced
/ 1t has had the same effect on the smoking
habit that the GROWER has had on the drink
ing habit BY its Responsiveness and con
venience for short smokes, it has spread the
habit among all classes, and comes within the
reach of the bootblack as well as the million
aire
OF the different articles for smoking, the
/ cigar is the best, the pipe comes next, and the
cigarette last. The cigarette Injuries every
body who uses it in greater or less de
gree The strongest man cannot escape II:
bad effects any more than a weak boy can.
Even allowing the tobacco to be unadulter
ated and of good quality, | hold that the
paper is injurious in all cases. Quantities OF
the smoke from it enter the nostrils ever
when not inhaled, and the smoke from any
kind of paper has an irritating effect on the
organs of the throat. In my opinion cigar
cite smoking induces condition of the hear
and digestive organs, which may cause dealt
sooner or later. The effect may not be no
ticeable for many years in man, but it is no
long in making its appearance in boy"